Stone masonry in Palm Bay FL - a natural stone face that sheds water and stays put
Got a plain block wall you'd like to dress up, or old stone that's coming loose? We set real stone in full mortar so it holds.
What goes into putting real stone on a wall?
Stone masonry in Palm Bay, FL means setting real natural stone in mortar, either as a facing over an existing wall or as columns and accents. Most natural stone is durable by nature, so the work gives your house a stone face that holds up.
Most people who call us about stone want to change the look of a plain block-and-stucco front, or they already have stone up that's started to loosen, and they want a straight answer before they spend anything. The price comes down to how many square feet you're covering, the stone you pick, how much cutting the corners and openings take, and what shape the wall behind it is in. On an old stone wall I won't know that last part for sure until the loose stone comes off. The schedule mostly turns on how soon your stone arrives and whether a permit is needed first, and the estimate I write after looking at your wall gives you the figure for your own job.
How we do stone masonry on your house
I start with the wall that will carry the stone, because stone over cracked block or loose stucco only hides a problem that will come back through the face. Not every stone holds up outdoors, so we help you choose one that suits an outside wall before anything gets ordered. Once it's delivered, our crew preps the wall, lays the stone out on the ground so the sizes and colors mix the way you want, and cuts pieces to fit around corners and openings. Each stone goes up in a full bed of mortar, and we tool the joints as we go so water runs off instead of sitting behind the stone. We finish by cleaning mortar smears off by hand and hauling away the offcuts.
Stone often goes up right next to brick, and if the brick joints beside it are crumbling, brick pointing clears out the worn mortar and packs in new so the whole front keeps water out. When the wall itself has cracked from settling, we take care of the foundation repair first, since new stone set on a wall that's still moving will crack right along with it.
Stone facing on a house or block wall
This suits a house front, a porch wall or a garden wall that's sound but plain, because thin natural stone gives you the look without the weight of a full stone wall. It does need a solid surface behind it, which is why I check the wall before we talk about stone.
Stone columns, piers and accents
If you want stone in a few places instead of across a whole wall, entry columns, a mailbox or a low planter edge give you the look with far less material. These small pieces still get a full mortar bed and tooled joints, because water gets behind a column just as easily as behind a wall.
Stone masonry in Palm Bay, permits and canal lots
Palm Bay's Building Department keeps a list of projects that need a permit at any value, and that list names structural, electrical and plumbing work but not stone masonry, so it doesn't settle the question for a stone job. The city asks owners to contact the department about other exterior projects. Before we start, I check with the office that covers your address and we handle the permit when your job needs one, because work that begins without a required permit ends up in code enforcement. If your lot backs onto a Melbourne-Tillman canal and we need temporary access to the canal's right-of-way, the water control district has to issue its permit first, and the city issues its own access permit only after that.
A lot of houses here are block and stucco, so most of the stone we set goes over block, often across the front of the house or around the entry. We do the same stone work north toward Rockledge and south into the West Vero Corridor.
Natural stone walls and accents
Why call us for stone masonry
I look at every wall myself
I come out to see every job and write the estimate, and a crew led by our lead mason does the work. You hear the reasons behind what I recommend from the person who'll stand behind it, and no question is too small.
Our own business since 2013
I learned masonry here in Palm Bay as another mason's right hand, running his jobs and his crew for years before we opened in 2013. Those years taught me to fix the cause and not just the crack you can see, because a patch over a problem that's still there is money wasted.
Fully licensed and insured here
We're fully licensed and insured, so you aren't the one carrying the risk if something goes wrong on your property. In Brevard County, a county-certified license covers work only inside the county, and state-certified contractors register with the county for permitting.
If you're thinking about stone for a wall, or you've got stone that's starting to let go, call (321) 326-1779 or send us a message and I'll come take a look.
(321) 326-1779Get a stone masonry estimate for your wall
We reply to every message within one business day to set a time, and then I come out, look at the wall and write your estimate. The estimate is free and done on site, with no obligation to go ahead.
Stone masonry questions from Palm Bay homeowners
How much does stone veneer cost per square foot in Palm Bay?
Stone veneer installation across the US usually costs about $15 to $45 per square foot, and that's a national figure, not our price. Where your job falls in that range depends on the stone you choose, how much cutting the corners and openings need, and what the wall behind it needs first. I measure on site and write your estimate from there.
Which natural stone holds up best on an outside wall in Palm Bay?
Go with a stone that has a history of standing up to the weather in your area, because some natural stones just aren't suited to outdoor walls. That's the advice in one stone installation guide, and you can ask the supplier to certify the stone suits local weather conditions before you buy. We'll help you choose one for an outside wall when I come out.
Why does stone veneer need a full bed of mortar behind every stone?
Because even small gaps behind a stone can collect water over time, and one installation guide calls full bedding essential for that reason. Those wet gaps can make the wall fail early, so a complete mortar bed is what keeps the stone sound for years. It's slower to lay this way, and it's the part you'll never see once the wall is done.
What is the best way to finish the mortar joints on a stone wall?
Tooled concave joints, pressed smooth with a rounded tool that packs the mortar, resist water best. Rough-cut or raked joints give a more rustic look but resist water less, so if keeping the wall dry matters most to you, tooled joints are the better pick.
Who can legally do stone masonry work on my house in Palm Bay?
State and local law say anyone you hire for construction work on your property has to be a licensed contractor, state certified or registered. You can check a contractor's license with the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Printed ads for a contractor must show the state license number, so look for it when you compare companies.
How do I clean a stone wall without loosening the stones?
Go easy and skip aggressive high-pressure cleaning, because one installation guide warns it might loosen stone on the wall. If a stone already rocks when you press on it, have it looked at before you clean, since a loose stone usually means something behind it has given way.
Ask about stone, brick and block work in Palm Bay
Call (321) 326-1779 or send your wall's size, a few photos and whether you back onto a canal, so I come out ready.
